^iMn^ 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOE-U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
CHARLES U. WALCOTT, DIKECTOK 



THE 



v.NjV 



FORESTSsftf THE UNITED STATES 



HENRY GANNETT 



EXTRACT FROM THE TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OP THE StTRVEY, 1S9S-99 

PART V, FOREST RESERVES— HENRY GANNETT, CHIEF OF 

DIVISION OP (iEOQRAPHY AND FORESTRY 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNME n't PRINTING OFFICE 
1900 






1^ 






X 



THE FORESTS OF THE UNITED STATER 



HENRY GANXETT 



FOREST RESERVES. 



Henky Gannett, Chief of Division. 



THE FORESTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 

CHANGES I]Sr RESERVES DURING THE YEAH. 

During the tiscal year numerous changes have been made in forest 
reserves, including several modifications of boundary lines, resulting 
in a considerable net increase to existing reserves and in the addi- 
tion of new resei-ves. The boundaries of the Black Hills Reserve, in 
South Dakota, have been changed Ijy the exclusion of a large area in 
the south and the inclusion of a much larger area in the north and 
west, the additions in the west being within the State of Wyoming. 
These changes have resulted in increasing the area of the reserve 
from 967,680 to 1,211,680 acres. The Pecos River Reserve, in New 
Mexico, has been extended by a narrow strip upon the east and a con- 
siderable addition upon the north. 

The additional reserves created during the year are Fish Lake, in 
Utah; Gallatin, in Montana; Gila, in New Mexico; Lake Tahoe, Pine 
Mountain and Zaca Lake, in California, and Black Mesa, Pre.scott, and 
San Francisco Mountains, in Arizona. 

PRESENT CONDITIONS. 

By these changes an area exceeding 11,000 square miles has been 
added to the reserves during the year. 

The following is a list of the reserves as they stood on July 1, 1899, 
with their areas: 

Names, location, and areas offorent re-ierveK, July 1, 1899. 



Name. 


state. 


Area. 


Acres. 


Square 
miles. 




Alaska 








Oregon -- 


18,560 

858, 240 


29 

1,:U1 

1, 7G2 


Battlement Mesa. . 




Wyoming 


1,127,680 







20 GEOL, FT 5 1 



FOREST KESEKVES. 



Namex, location, and arem of fores! reserves, July 1 


1899 — Continued. 


Name. 


state. 


Area. 


Acres. 


Square 
Miles. 


Bitterroot 


Idaho and Montana 

South Dakota 

Arizona 

Oregon 

do 


4, 147, 200 
1,211,680 
1, 658, 880 
142, 080 
4, 492, 800 
67, 840 

1, 382, 400 

40, 320 

2, 327, 040 
1,851,520 

136, 335 
2, 926, 080 

2, 234, 880 
2, 188, 800 

431,040 

184, 320 

1,644,594 

179,200 

10, 240 

645, 120 

737, 280 

975, 360 

555, 520 

737, 280 

4, 096, 000 

683, 520 

691, 200 

829, 440 

49, 920 

875, 520 

3, 594, 240 
1,198,080 
1,239,040 


6,480 
1,893 
2,592 

222 
7, 020 

106 

2, 160 

63 

3, 636 

2, 893 
213 

4, 572 

3, 492 
3,420 

673. 5 
288 
2, 569. 6 

280 

16 

1,008 

1, 152 

1,524 

868 
1,152 
6,400 
1, 068 
1,080 
1,296 
78 
1,368 
5,616 
1,872 
1,936 


Blaok Hills 


Black Mesa 


Bull Run 

Cascade 


Fish Lake 


Utah 


Flathead 


Montana 


Gallatin . ... 


.. . do 


Gila 


New Mexico 


Cxranil Canyon 


Arizona 

California 

^lontana 


Lake Tahoe 


Lewis and Clarke 


Mount Rainier. . 


Washington 


Oivnipic 


... do 


Pecos River 


New Mexico 


Pikes Teak 


Colorado 


Pine Mountain ami Zaca 

Lake. 
Plum Creek 


California 


Prescott . ... 


Arizona 

Idaho and Washington . 


Prie.st River 


San Bernardino . . 


San Francisco Mountains . . 

San Gabriel 

San Jacinto 


Arizona 

California 


do 


Sierra 


do 


South Platte . . 


Colorado 


Stanislaus 


California 


Teton 




Trabuco Canvon 




Uinta 


Utah 


AVashingtt in . . . . 


Washington 

Colorado 


Wliite River Plateau 

Yellowstone 








Total 


46, 169, 249 


72, 139 











There i.s, therefore, reserved from settlement at present an area of 
73,139 square miles. It is composed mainly of mountainous, rugged 
country, of no value for agriculture, but especially favorable for tree 
growth. The locations of the reserves are .shown on PI. I. in pocket 
at the end of this volume. 



AREAS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



3 



Of these I'eserve.sexivniination.s have been made by thi.s office of the 
following: Battlement Mesa, Bighorn, Bitterroot, Black Hills, Flat- 
head, Pikes Peak, Plum Creek, Priest River, San Bernardino, Sau 
Gabriel, San Jacinto, South Platte, Teton, Washington, and White 
River Plateau. Besides these the Mount Rainier, Olvnipic, and Yellow- 
stone reserves have been examined in part. 

The reserves thus far examined comprise an area of 28,236 square 
miles, or about 39 per cent of the entire area of the reserves. 

The following are the areas I'eserved in each State and Territorj', 
with the proportion which the reserved area bears to the total area 
and to the wooded area of each State or Territory: 

Arms of forcM reserrcs hi/ States, in square itiiles and iti peri'eMages of area and of 

■wooded areas. 



Area 
reserved. 


Per cent of 
total area. 


Per cent of 
wooded area 


Sg. miles. 








6, 82.5 




6 


27 


IS, .509 




9 


30 


4,848 




5 


15 


6, 264 




7 


IS 


7,885 




5 


19 


4,273 




3 


18 


7,271 




8 


13 


1,893 




2 


76 


1,474 




2 


15 


12,672 




19 


27 


4,994 




5 


40 



Arizona 

Califoi-nia ... 

Colorado 

Idaho 

Montana 

New Mexico. 

Oregon 

South Daliota 

Utah 

Washington . 
Wyoming 



Of the total area it appears that a much larger proportion of Wash- 
ington has been reserved than of any other State or Territory. Of 
the wooded area the proportion ranges from 13 per cent in Oregon 
to 76 per cent in South Dakota, where nearly all the woodland has 
been reserved from settlement. 

ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OlS" FOREST RESERVES. 

PIKES PEAK, PLUM CREEK, AND SOUTH PLATTE RESERVES. 

There are in Colorado live reserves, known as Pikes Peak, Plum 
Creek, South Platte, White River, and Battlement Mesa reserves. Of 
these the first three were examined by Mr. John G. Jack and the last 
two b}^ Mr. George B. Sudworth. 

The three reserves. Pikes Peak, Plum Creek, and South Platte, are 
in the central part of the State and lie contiguous to one another. 
The first comprises an area of 184:,320 acres, or 288 square miles, 



4 FOREST RESERVES. 

including the summit of Pikes Peak and its slopes and spurs to the 
north, south, and west. The second comprises an ax'ea of 179,200 acres, 
or 280 square miles, including the rugged, granite country immediately 
to the west of Pikes Peak, traversed by the South Platte. The third 
comprises an ai'eaof 683,520 acres, or 1,068 square miles, and includes 
the high mountains upon the east, north, and west of South Park. 

The surface of these reserves lies at rather high altitudes, ranging 
from 7,000 feet in the lowest valleys to 14,000 feet upon the summits 
of the mountains. It is, in the main, a rugged mountain region, 
heavih' eroded, with thin, coarse soil, mainly of granite detritus, and 
vevy little of it is suited for anj^ other purpose than the production of 
forests. 

Owing to the great altitude the climate is rather severe, and even 
in the most favored localities only very limited agriculture is possible. 
The crops which can be produced consist only of the hardiest grains 
and vegetables, while nearlj- all the land within the area is incapable 
of supporting any agriculture whatever. The rainfall, however, is 
ample for the support of forests over nearly the entii'e region. 

Of all the reserves established by the Federal Government these 
three probably have been most damaged by fire and have been sub- 
jected to the greatest depredation by timber cutters. Onlj' a small 
proportion of the total area of these reserves is without traces of fires, 
and large areas have been burned over in comparatively recent j^ears. 
Moreover, timber cutting has been very widespread, the forests hav- 
ing been culled almost everywhere of their largest and most valuable 
trees. As a result of the fires and of the cutting, the timber is every- 
where small, occurring in scattered groves, alternating with open 
areas. It is nowhere dense, and the older trees are very defective. 
There is much undergrowth, showing the disposition of the foi'est to 
reassert itself, but in the entire area of these reserves there is alto- 
gether very little merchantable timber. 

The pi'incipal timber trees found in these reserves are the follow- 
ing: ^ 

Pinus ponderom, (yellow pine). — This is the most abundant, the most 
widely distributed, and the most valuable species found within this 
area. It attains a larger growth than other trees, the extreme limit 
observed being 125 feet in height and exceeding 3 feet in diameter. 
It is found ranging from the lowest altitude within the reserve up to 
about 10,000 feet. 

Pinus mwi^ayana (lodgepole pine) is abundant, sometimes being found 
mixed with other pines and spruces, at other times forming pure 
growths. As everywhere else in the Rockj- Mountain region, this 
species is here increasing its range, being the first to restock burned 
areas. It is of little commercial \'alue. 

Pseudotsuga taxifoUa (red fir, Dougla.s spruce). — This tree is found 



GANNETT] ABSTRACT OF REPORTS. 5 

clo.sely assofiiited with the yellow pine, occupying practically the same 
belt of altitude. It grows here to a considerable size, although not to 
be compared in this respect with its development on the Pacific coast. 
The extreme height observed was 120 feet, with a trunk 4 feet iu 
diameter. 

Picea engelmanni (Engelmann spruce). — This tree is abundant at 
considerable altitudes, reaching its best development between 10,000 
and 11,000 feet, where it is sometimes found 120 feet in height, with 
a diameter exceeding .3 feet. 

Picea jiarryanOt (blue spruce). — This tree is nowhere abundant and 
never occurs by itself, being mixed with other species. Its range is 
from the lowest altitudes up to about 9,000 feet. 

Ahies Imiocarpa (alpine fir). — This tree is here of rare occurrence, 
being found sparsely at the greatest altitudes. 

Ahies concolor (balsam fir). — This also is of rather rare occurrence, 
and is of little importance from an economic point of view. 

Other species found within the reserves which are of little or no 
economic importance are the piiion pine, two species of juniper, 
quaking aspen, and cottonwood. 

PIKES PEAK RE.SERVE. 

The Pikes Peak Reserve is traversed by the Colorado Midland Rail- 
way, on which are several stations, a number of them being in the 
nature of summer resorts, containing few inhabitants except in the 
summer season. The northeastern corner of the reserve is touched by 
the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, and a considerable town has been 
built up at Palmer Lake within the limits of the reserve. 

Scattered over the reserve are a number of small ranches, as along 
Bear and North Cheyenne creeks, and upon the Cheyenne Mountain 
wagon road, between Chej^enne Springs and Cripple Creek. There is 
little agriculture possible in this reserve, and little has been attempted, 
the ranches being chieflj^ devoted to the raising of cattle. 

There are no active mines within this reserve, although nuich pros- 
pecting is being done. 

There are no sawmills at present at work within the reserve, but 
much cutting has been done in past years. 

PLUM CREEK RESERVE. 

A considerable proportion, perhaps a third, of the area of the Plum 
Creek Reserve is under private ownership, the lands thus held being 
as a rule those at the lowest altitudes and having the most level 
surface. 

The western side of this reserve has, in recent years, been the scene 
of intense mining excitement, which resulted in the establishment of 
a number of small mining towns. The boom, however, having sub- 



6 FOREST KESERVES. 

sided, these towns are largely deserted at present. There are now no 
paying mines within the reserve, although many prospects arc held 
and work is being done upon them. 

Mueh luml)ering is still carried on in this reserve, there being at the 
time of the examination no fewer than six portable sawmills at work, 
altogether capable of turning out 60,000 or 70,000 feet of lumber per 
day. The owners of these mills claim to Ije cutting timber upon land 
held in private ownership. 

SOUTH PLATTE RESERVE. 

In the South Platte Reserve are sexeral towns of considerable mag- 
nitude, such as Alma, Park City, and East Leadville. The western 
portion of the reserve is traversed by a branch of the Colorado and 
Southern Railway and by the Colorado Midland Railway, which ha\'e 
stations located within it. Altogether, although a comparatively small 
proportion of th(> reserve has been alienated, there is a considerable 
population living within its limits. 

Only small portions of this reserve lie at altitudes suiEciently low to 
permit agriculture, even upon the most limited scale, to be carried on, 
and but little farming is attempted. Cattle and sheep are grazed to a 
considerable extent in the margin of South Park, which lies within 
the reserve. 

The northern and western borders of South Park lying within the 
reserve have in years past been the scene of active placer mining ; 
consideral)le quartz mining also has lieen done. At present the min- 
ing industry in this region is not in a prolitable condition ; still there 
are numerous mining camps, some new and some old, within the region. 
Among these are Puma, Gold City, Jasper, Alma, Park City, East 
Leadville, and Saci-amento. 

Timber cutting, especially in the mountains on the north and west 
of South Park, has in years past been extremely active for the supply 
of the mines, especially those at Leadville, but at the time of the 
examination of this reserve there were only four or live mills at work, 
probably upon timber owned by private parties. 

These reserves can not be regarded as sources of supply of timber at 
present, or for many years to come, but rather as areas for its culti- 
vation. Through tires and timber cutting nearly all the timber of 
value has been destroyed, and it will require generations of care and 
protection before this area can again become a source of supply. 

BATTLEMENT MESA FOREST RESERVE. 

This reserve was examined by Mr. George B. Sudworth during the 
months of September and October, 1898. It is situated in western 
Colorado, between Grand and Gunnison rivers. The area of the 
reserve is 1,321 square miles, or 858,240 acres. 



GANNETT.] ABSTRACT OF REPORTS. 7 

The surface of this reserve is composed largely of high plateaus, 
whose summits i-ange from 10,000 to 12,000 feet in altitude. Being 
mainl_v a greatly elevated region, it enjoys a rainfall ample for the 
growth of forests. Still, despite this ample rainfall, it is not by any 
means a heavily forested region. The trees occur in groves, alternat- 
ing with areas of open park, and as a rule are small and of a species 
of no great value for industrial purposes. Altogether the stand of 
timber upon the reserve is estimated to be not more than 150 million 
feet B. :M. 

The most salient features of this reserve are the two high mesas, 
known as Grand and Battlement mesas. The latter is comparatively 
small, its summit covering but a few square miles, separating Grand 
River from the upper waters of Plateau Creek. Its altitude is fully 
12,000 feet above the sea. It is composed in the main of sandstones, 
with a lava cap, which has protected it from erosion. 

Grand Mesa is much larger and rises with long slopes from the val- 
ley of Gunnison Eiver on the south and west to an altitude of 10,000 
to 11,000 feet. Like Battlement Mesa, it is composed mainly of sand- 
stones, with a lava capping, which in parts has Ijecn broken away by 
undermining, leaving here and there lava summits, while at the west- 
ern part the lava cap still remains intact, covering a considerable area. 

The principal trees occurring in this reserve are, in the order of their 
importance, as follows: 

Engelmann spruce and alpine fir. which are always associated 
together in the forests, are the most conspicuous and abundant and 
cover the largest areas. Of these mixed forests the spruce forms about 
three-fourths of the timber. They occur mainly between 8,000 and 
10,500 feet above the sea. Neither tree grows to large size, rarely 
exceeding 70 feet in height and 14 or 15 inches in diameter. 

Red fir, or Douglas spruce, is found in small groves and single trees, 
between the altitudes of 6,500 and 9,800 feet. The extreme size of 
this tree is 30 inches in diameter and 65 feet in height. 

Blue spruce occurs sparingly between altitudes of 6,800 and 8,500 
feet. This is one of the largest ti'ees found in the reserve, ranging in 
height up to 90 feet and in diameter to 30 inches. 

Yellow pine is found in this I'eserve, but it is of very limited occur- 
rence. 

There are other species of little commercial value, such as the one- 
seed juniper. Rocky Mountain juniper and piiion pine. 

The aspen is abundant everywhere between altitudes of 6,400 and 
10,000 feet, forming dense groves upon old burns. 

The timber upon this reserve is of exceedingly poor quality. The 
stand is everywhere light, the trees are small, biunched low down and 
linotty, and a considerable proportion, 25 per cent to 40 per cent, 
including all the largest timber, is dead or defective. 



8 FOREST KESERVES. 

The extent of arable land within the reserve is trifling. It is con- 
fined to a few hundred acres, widely scattered about on the lower 
slopes of the plateaus. 

But two occupied ranches were found, although there were many 
others which had been abandoned either temporarily or permanently. 

Owing to the poor quality of the timber in this region, most of that 
used in the towns on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad is brought 
in from outside, and the demand for lumber which this resei-ve may 
be called upon to supply is at present, owing to the character of the 
timber, but very slight. 

The cause of the condition of the forest in this reserve is the same 
as in other parts of the Rocky Mountain region — it is the old story of 
forest fires, which have raged over it for centuries, injuring or destroy- 
ing the standing timber and liilling the undei-growth. It is only through 
a cessation of these fii-es that the region will be afforded an opportunity 
to be reclothed with timber, and this process will necessarily be a very 
slow one. 

WHITE RIVER FOREST RESERVE. 

The White River Forest Reserve of Colorado was examined by Mr. 
George B. vSudworth during the months of July and August, 1S9S. The 
reserve is situated in western Colorado, in the region of high plateaus 
which ilanlv the Rocky Mountains on the west. It includes the heads 
of White River, an eastern branch of the Green. 

The surface of this reserve is composed of high, level, or rolling 
plateaus, elevated 10,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level, with the broad 
deep valleys which separate them. Bcnng in the main a greatly ele- 
vated region, it enjoys a rainfall ample for forest growth. The lower 
valleys of the reserve have a climate vi'hich permits of agricidture. but 
the principal valleys and the sunmiits of the jjlateaus have an altnost 
arctic climate. 

The region as a whole is sparsely timl)ered. The timber grows in 
patches and groves of various sizes, from a few acres up to square 
miles in extent. Altogether, the stand of timber upon it is estimated 
at 1.300 million feet B. M. The principal species of value for lumber 
consist, in the order of their importanc-e, of the following: 

Engelmann spruce, which ranges from 19 to 24 inches in diameter 
and up to 120 feet in height. 

Alpine fir. found at the greatest elevations, where it ranges from 18 
to 24 inches in diameter. 

Lodgepole pine, which is the most at)undant, although not the most 
important tree. Its timber ranges from 8 to 20 inches, and it reaches 
a height of 75 feet. 

Blue spruce, ranging in diameter from 10 to 24 inches and up to 80 
or 100 feet in heiaht. 



GANNETT.] ABSTRACT OF REPORTS. 9 

Red fir. 10 to 20 inches in diameter and from 30 to 60 feet high. 

Yellow pine, from 1 to 2 feet in diameter and from 60 to 80 feet 
in height. 

In the lower valleys within the reserve are numerous ranches, and 
scattered about are a number of summer resorts, especially for hunt- 
ng purposes. There are no villages within the reserve, but there 
are four post-offices for the accommodation of the ranchmen. 

The timber which has been cut upon the reserve is not great in total 
amount, and has been cut entirely for local consvmiption and not in 
any sense for export. 

As in all parts of the Rocky Mountain region, the fires have been, 
in times past and present, very destructive. To this cause is to be 
attributed the fragmentary character of the forest. If protected from 
fires, there is no possible doubt that all of this region, with the excep- 
tion of the lower valleys, would in time be covered with a fairly dense 
tree growth. 

The open lands upon the reserve are used to a large extent for the 
pasturing of cattle and horses by the ranchmen upon and near the 
I'eserve. 

There is at present no mining going on upon the reserve. 

FLATHEAD FOREST RESERVE, MONTANA. 

This reserve was examined by Mr. H. B. Ayres, who devoted about 
four months to the work. The area examined is approximately 2,160 
square miles, including the reserve and a tract of country extending 
to the westward as far as Tobacco Plains. The area, which lies entirely 
north of the Great Northern Railway, consists, in general terms, of 
two mountain ranges, one in the eastern, the other in the western part 
of the reserve, separated by a broad valley. The easternmost of the 
two ranges is the eastei'n range of the Rocky Mountain sj^stem in this 
latitude, facing the plains. Its peaks have an altitude in the neighbor- 
hood of the railroad of from 7,000 to 9,000 feet, rising northward, so 
that at the northern boundary of the country they reach an altitude of 
11,000 feet. All the gorges leading out of this range are of glacial 
origin, and in the upper parts of these gorges glaciers still remain, 
covering a large part of the region with snow and ice. It is an 
extremely rugged range, abounding in points of great scenic interest. 
West of this range is the valley of Flathead River above the lake, 
which in the south has a width of about 15 miles, narrowing north- 
ward toward the boiuidary. Succeeding this valley on the west is a 
broken, irregular mountain range, not as high nor as rugged as the 
eastern range. 

Most of this region is drained southward bj^ the Flathead River 
into Flathead Lake. Smaller portions are drained by the Kootenai, 
Saskatchewan, and Missouri rivers. 



10 FOREST KESERVES. 

Taken as a whole, the region is one of fairly almndant rainfall, 
although, as it has a wide range in altitude, the rainfall difl'ers greatly 
in different parts. In the valleys irrigation is probably advisable, if 
not necessary ; while upon the mountains the rainfall is ample for tree 
o-rowth. Owing to the latitude and the elevation the temperature is 
low, rendering it doubtful whether agriculture can ever be made 
protitable within it. 

The region is generally lightl_y timbei-ed. This is due not, however, 
to the climate, which is not unfavorable to tree growth, but to fre- 
quent and persistent tires. The merchantable timber in the reserve 
consists mainly of western larch, red tir, spruce, and yellow pine. 
The entire stand of timber within the reserve, estimating it upon the 
basis of the present practice in cutting, is only 300 million feet. 
Measuring it, however, by Eastern standards, Mr. Ajres finds N51 
million feet, and in addition to that 3,628,000 cords of wood suitable 
for firewood. This amount stands upon an area of 1.9-12 square miles, 
leaving only 218 square miles reported as not timbered. 

It is plain from the above that this reserve can not be regarded as an 
important source of timber at present, but rather as a region for the 
cultivation of timber for future use. 

Nimierous claims have been taken up in various parts of this reserve, 
the greater portion of which are apparently abandoned or are occu- 
pied only a small part of the time. Indeed, it appears that only 40 
or 50 claims are continuously occupied. The probabilities of agricul- 
ture in this region are somewhat doubtful, owing to the severity of 
the climate. 

There are no producing mines within the reser\'(>, although many 
locations have been made upon which assessment work is being done. 

BITTERROOT RESERVE (IDAHO PORTION). 

This portion of the Bitteroot Reserve was examined by Mr. J. B. 
Lei])erg, who devoted to it the entire season, conmiencing early in 
June and concluding work in the beginning of October. The area 
examined exceeds 5,600 square miles or 3,612.160 acres. The surface 
is made up of great massive spurs from the main divide of the Bitter- 
root Range, M-hich forms its eastern limit. These spurs ti-end west- 
ward and separate launches of the Clearwater, excepting the southern 
part, which is drained by Salmon River and .short triliutaries from the 
north. The country is exceedingly rugged and mountainous, the val- 
leys being, in the main, narrow, with precipitous walls rising at steep 
angles. It is an extremely inaccessible region, being traversed by very 
few trails and no wagon roads. The elevation of the region ranges 
from 3,000 feet in thelowest valleys up to It. 500 feet upon the mountain 
summits. 

But little mining is or has been done within the limits of thereserve; 



GANNETT.] ABSTRACT OF REPORTS. 11 

a few placers nave been discovered and worked, and some quartz leads 
have been discovered, but at present the latter are merely prospects. 

Agricultural land is very limited in amount, and is distributed in 
small areas in the narrow valleys upon the west side of the reserve. 

There is considerable land suitable for grazing, both in the stream 
valleys and high up in the mountams. These areas altogether amount 
to many thousand acres, but collectively are not large in comparison 
with the entire area of the reserve. 

There are at present no stock or sheep pastured within the reserve, 
except a few owned bj^ ranchmen. 

Settlement is confined to a few vallej^s in the western part of the 
reserve, and is very limited in amount. The few settlers have no 
market at present for their products; indeed, the products are limited 
in range, owing to the severity of the climate. 

The rainfall through this entire region is heavy, being probabh' 
sufficient in the average year for cultivation without irrigation. 

The aspect of the forests is extremely diversified, a feature «hich 
is apparently due, in part, to the great range of altitude, and in part 
to the great prevalence of fires. The region contains a great lumiber 
of tree species and exhibits a great range in age of trees. Of the 
3,612,160 acres embraced in the region examined, Mr. Leiberg finds 
that 193.0()0 acres are naturally treeless. This area is situated mainly 
upon the higher parts of the mountains, where the ruggedness of the 
surface precludes tree growth. He finds that within the past seventy- 
five j'ears 1,442,111: acres have been badly burned, and the remainder 
of the area, 1,977,016 acres, has been untouched by fire, and is con- 
sequently covered with tree growth of considerable size, and there- 
fore of value. 

Upon this area he finds 1,899,800,000 feet B. M. of merchantable 
timber, consisting of the following species in the proportion given : 

Per cent. 

Red fir 27 

Yellow pine 24 

Pacific arbor vit« 15 

Eiigehnann spruce 10 

Silver fir 8 

Western white pine 6 

Western larch .5 

Alpine hemlock . .3 

Loilgepole pine 2 

It must not be understood from the above table that the total amount 
of lodgepole pine nor the area covered bj' it is in proportion to the 
amount here reported as merchantable. On the contrary, this is the 
most abundant tree in the reserve and occupies by far the largest area, 
especialh' among the young gi'owth. 

The average stand of timber upon the areas occupied bj' merchant- 



12 FOREST RESERVES. 

able timber is about 2,500 feet per acre. The stand, however, shows 
wide ^\ariations with different areas and different species, ranging as 
high, in some localities, as 100,000 feet per acre over small areas. 

FOREST CONDITIONS AND STANDING TIMBER OF WASHINGTON. 

In my last report I published a tabular statement, by counties, of 
the standing timber of Washington, as estimated by cruisers, under 
the lumber practice prevailing in the State, and detailed statements 
reoardiug land classitication, the stand of timber, and the amounts of 
various species in the western counties. 

During the past winter the work of collecting cruisings and of pre- 
paring detailed estimates has been finished for the entire State, and 
the results are herewith presented, together with maps showing the 
classification of lands and the distribution of timber. (Pis. II-VII.) 

With the exception of the redwood forests of California, the forests 
of western Washington are among the densest, heaviest, and most 
continuous in the United States. Except for a few prairie openings, 
and except where removed by fire or the ax, they formerly covered 
the country as a thick mantle from a line high up on the Cascade 
Range westward to the shores of the Pacific. In all this region only 
the Olympics rear a few summits above the forests. Not only are the 
forests dense overhead, but the undergrowth is dense and tangled 
beneath. The trees are large, reaching 12 to 15 feet in diameter and 
250 feet in height, with clear trunks for 100 or more feet. The timber 
is mainlj' red or yellow fir {Pseudotsuga iMxifoUa), mingled with spruce, 
hemlock, and cedar. 

The amount of standing timber in this region has long been a mat- 
(L-r of interest, and many wild guesses have been hazarded. As usual 
in such cases, most of them have been far above the truth. AVith no 
data on which to base an estimate the tendency is to exaggerate. 

To obtain an approximation to the true amount, statistics derived 
from cruisings recently made have been obtained from all parts of the 
State, and especially from the heavily timbered portion lying west of 
the Cascade Range. The sources of this information are as follows: 

The Northern Pacific Railway Companj', which has made most elab- 
orate cruisings of that part of its land grant situated west of the Cas- 
cade Range, has, with great li])erality, through its western land agent, 
Mr. Thomas Cooper, furnished an abstract of all the information in 
its possession regarding timber lands, including not only the statistics 
of standing timber, but maps showing the areas at present forested, 
those naturallj' unforested, those which have been cut over, and those 
which have been burned. These statistics have been compiled and the 
maps have been prepared by Messrs. John M. Rankineand George H. 
Plummer, of the Northern Pacific Riiihvay oflice. The commissioner 
of the State land oiiice has furnishod abstracts of all cruisings made 



U S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 




MAP OF WASHINGTON SHO^YI; 

EXPRESSED IN FERCENTA( 
Bv (Veo. H. PlLiinn\er, V 



50 40 30 SO 10 



Under I % 



10 to 25% 



TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT PART V PL. Ill 




JULIUS BlEN 8 CO UTH I 



; THE DISTHIHUTION OF RED FIR 

OF THE TOTAI. FOREST AREA 
'luinmer ajid .J.H. Rankine 
98 



50 to 75 "o 



75 to]00% 



tm 



Jc 



GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 13 

for the selection of lands for the State. Besides the above, several 
lumber companies .ud owners of timber land have placed their infor- 
mation at the disposal of this office. 

The collection of data and preparation of estimates for the counties 
east of the crest of the Cascade Range has been done by Mr. Fred G. 
Plummer, who has devoted the winter months of 1898-99 to this 
work. 

Altogether, crui ings of more than two million acres have been col- 
lected. These are scattered widely over the State and represent thor- 
oughly well the stand of timber under all the different conditions of 
rainfall, temperature, soil, slope exposure, i-elief, and altitude. 

The other factor necessary for obtaining the total stand of timber, 
the area of merchantable timber, has been obtained from the same 
sources in the greatest detail, and with this the ai'eas which have been 
logged and which ; e been burned in recent years. 

In connection ^nth data regarding the stand of timber, its distri- 
bution as to species has been obtained, the classification being that 
recognized by lumb-rmen. 

From these data ■ le total amount of timber in the State, under the 
Washington lumbering practice, is estimated at 114,778 million feet 
B. M. Of this amount more than nine-tenths, or 103,504 million feet, 
are west of the crest of the Cascade Range, the remainder, 11,274 
million feet, being upon its eastern slope and in the northern and east- 
ern portions of the I ate. This total is less than half that estimated 
as standing- in Oregon, a fact which I explain liy the following 
considerations : 

First, the area of merchantable timber is by no means so great in 
Washington as in Oregon. While the wooded areas do not differ 
materially, that of C egon being 54,300 square miles and that of 
Washington 47,700 square miles, a much larger proportion of the 
wooded area of Oregon is occupied by timber of merchantable size 
and species. For instance, the Cascade Range in Washington is much 
broader than in Oregon and at much greater altitude, thus cutting out 
on this account a larger part of the wooded area. The Olympic 
Mountains also subtract another large part of the wooded area. 

Second, the lumber industry of Washington has been, especially in 
recent years, much more important than in Oregon, and consequently 
a larger area has been cut over. In 1890 the cut of Washington was 
double that of Oregon. 

Third, although the Coast Ranges of Oregon have suffered greatly 
from tires, the State as a whole, and especially the western portion 
of it, has not suffered by any means as severely from this source of 
destruction as has Washirgton, probably owing to the fact that lum- 
bering has not been as activ'e. 

The State of Washington is naturally divided into two parts, which 



14 



FOREST RESERVES. 



difler from one another widely in respect to timber growtii. The line 
of division is the crest of the Cascade Rang-e, running from the nortli 
to the south line of the State. West of it the country is heavily 
forested, or was before lumbering operations commenced. In this 
part of the State the areas naturally dc\oid of timber are few and 
small and altogether trifling in proportion to the total area. East of 
it the land is mainly without timber, and where timber exists it is 
sparse and its quality is inferior. 

Moreover, there is a great difference in the species. West of the 
Cascade Range the prevailing species, which forms nearly two-thirds 
of the entire forest, is red or yellow hr. This, with cedar, hemlock, 
and spruce, compose the entire forest. Fir is found in almost all 
parts of this region, and throughout the Sound Valley little of any 
other species is found, the forests ])('ing almost pure fir. East of the 
Cascade Range the forest consists mainly of pine, priucipall}' yellow 
pine, though in the northeast corner of the State a little white pine is 
intermingled. Red fir is found scattered through the pine forests i\i 
considerable proportion, and in the nurtlieastern part of the State 
larch is abundant. Small proportions of hemlock and cedar are also 
found, and a trifling amount of spruce and oak. 

The following table gives the stand of tim))er of the species recog- 
nized by the lumbermen, in thousands of feet, board measure, with 
the percentage which each bears to the total amount: 

Standing timber in Washington. 



Spccios. 


M feut B. M. 


Per cent of 
total. 


Red fir 


68, 338, 421 

16, 309, 453 

14, 848, 259 

6, 586, 520 

6,419,215 

2, 078, 601 

24, .550 

3,700 


60 

14 

13 

6 

5 

2 


Cedar 


Hemlock .. 


Pine 






White fir . .... 


( );lk 









Dividing the State into the two parts above given, the following 
tables show the distribution of these species in these two sections, with 
the percentage which each bears to the total forest of that section: 



U. S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 




MAP OF WASHINGTON SHOW 

EXPRESSED IN PERCEN 
Bv Geo. H. Plumme 



50 40 30 20 



Under l.°o 



1 to 10 ° o 



10 tx) 2J 



TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT PART V PL. IV 




JULIUS BIEN aCO.LlTH r 



E DISTRIBUTION OF HEMLOCK 

THE TOTAL FOREST AREA 
mer and J. H. Rankine 



w. 



23 to 50°' 



50 to 75% 



0\'er75% 



FORESTS OB' WASHINGTON. 
Standivg timber in western Washington. 



15 



Species. 



Fir 

Cedar . . . 
Hemlock 
Spruce . . 



M feet B. M. 



66, 208, 861 

16, 192, 276 

14, 699, 759 

6, 402, 605 



Per cent of 
total. 



64 

16 

14 

6 



Standing timber in eastern Washington. 



Species. 


M feet B. \t. 


Per cent of 
total. 


Pine 


6, 586, 520 

2, 129, 560 

2, 078, 601 

148, 500 

117,177 

24, 550 

16,610 

8, 700 


60 
19 
19 

1 
1 


Red fir . . 


Larch .... . . . 


Heudock 


Cedar 


White fir 


Sj )ruce 




Oak 









The above figures do not add up to the total given for this part of 
the State, owing to the fact that a few million feet were not classified 
by the cruisers. 

The table on the next page gives the estimated amount of merchant- 
able timber in each county, in thousands of feet B. M., as at present 
estimated by lumbermen. If it were cut under the practice which 
prevails at present, the.se figures represent a close approximation to 
the amount which would be realized. There is no question, however, 
that as in the case of the eastern white pine, a much larger amount will 
ultimately be realized, for several reasons : 

First, the standard will certainly be lowered, so that instead of 
utilizing only one-third of the tree, two-third.s may be used, and many 
small trees now destroyed by fire in the culled areas will be cut; 
second, species not now used may come into the market ; third, areas 
now considered inaccessible will serve as sources of supply ; fourth, the 
new growth on cut and burned areas will reach merchantable size 
long before the old growth is exhausted. 

In illustration of the difference between the supply as viewed by the 
'Washington lumbermen and the actual amount, take the figures given 
by ]\Ir. Aj'res in his report on the western part of the Washington 
Reserve. Under Washington practice he found but 400 million feet in 
that area consisting of red fir. But under the Minnesota practice, by 
which the contents of all species is estimated, without regard to acces- 



16 



FOREST RESEKVES. 



t^ibility, he found not less than 14,400 million feet. This is, of course, 
an extreme case, but it is probably paralleled throughout the Cascade 
Range and in the Olympics. 

Merchantable timber in the State of Washington, by counties. 



Ck)unty. 


M feet B. M. 


County. 


M feet B. M. 


A'^iotin 


81 

18, 579 

9, 072 

2,342 

243 

5, 216 

31 

1.667 

170 

430 
4.230 
7,644 
1,141 
1.260 

743 
8, 586 


Lincoln 


14 

2, 091 

2, 665 

7,813 

6,520 

10, 362 

4,661 

7,709 

766 

2,702 

2,787 

2,974 

5 

1,346 

35 

893 




Mason 


01 all am 


Okanogan 


Clarke 


Pacific 








Skagit 


T)oiieflaR 


Skamania 


Ferry 


Snohomish 




Spokane 


Island 


Stevens 


Thurston 


\\.\\\^f 


Wahkiakum 


Ivitsap 


Wallavvalla 


Kittita.s 


Whatcom 


Klickitat 


Whitman 


Lewis 


Yakima 







The counties omitted contain no merchantable timber. 

Average stand of timber per acre on timbered areas. 



County. 


Feet B. M. 


County. 


Feet B. M. 




1,200 

21, 300 

15, 700 

19, 000 

1,700 

20, 400 

1,000 

1,200 

2,000 

15,300 

20, 500 

* 9, 000 


Lincoln 300 

Mason 5,600 

Okanogan 1,100 

Pacific ! 16,300 

Pierce 18,000 

Skagit 28,000 

Skamania 17.000 


Chehalis 

Clallam 


Clarke 

Columbia 

Cowlitz 


Douglas 






19, 000 


Garfield 




2,300 
1, 100 


Jefferson 


Stevens 


King 


Thurston 

Wahkiakum 


11,0.50 


Kitsap 


27, 000 




1,000 

1,400 

16, 500 




24, 000 


Klickitat 


Yakima 


1,900 


Lewis ...-. 







U-S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 




Under 1 ' 



TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT PART V PL. V 




JULIUS BIEN a CO LITH N 1 



THE DISTRIBUTION OF SPRUCE 

)F THE TOTAL FORK ST AREA 
uimiier ai\d J. H. Raixkine 
8 
le 



23 lo oC^o 



50 to 75% 



GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 17 

The stand is heaviest in Skagit County, near the northern bound- 
ary. The next heaviest is Wahkiakum, in the southwest, near Colum- 
bia River. In western Washington the average stand is 18,000 feet ; 
in eastern Washington it is but 1.200 feet B. M. 

The entire area of Washington is 6G,880 square miles. Of this 
23,165 square miles are covered with merchantable timber, or 36 per 
cent of its area. Only one-half of the wooded area of the State is 
I'egarded as containing merchantable timber under present lumbering 
practice. 

The entire area of the nineteen counties of western Washington is 
2-4,906 square miles. Of this area but little more than one-third, or 
9,039 square miles, is regarded as containing merchantable timber. 
Besides this, an area of 3,025 square miles has already been logged ; a 
much greater area, 3,614 square miles, of merchantal)le timljer has 
been burned, besides an area of 700 square miles in the mountains not 
containing merchantable timber. In other words, out of an area of 
15,858 square miles foi-merly covered with merchantable timber, 20 
per cent, or one-fifth, has been cut ; 22^ per cent has been destroyed 
by fire, and the remainder, 57^ per cent, is still covered with standing 
timber. In this entire area there are only 833 square miles which are 
naturally timberless. 

If we assume that the logged area contained on an average the same 
amount of timber per acre as is still standing in other areas, it appears 
that since lumbering liegan in this region there have been cut from it 
36,000 million feet B. M. 

If we uiake the same assumption regarding the burned area, it 
appears that there has been destroyed by fire, without the least ben- 
efit to the world, the enormous amount of 40,000 million feet B. M. of 
lumber. Anyone who has passed the late summer and,earl}' fall in this 
State realizes the enormous destruction which takes place annualh* at 
this season. There are fires everywhere, and for weeks at a time the 
smoke from them lies as dense as the fog on the New England coast. 

These are impressive facts. In less than a generation more than 
two-fifths of the timber in one of the richest timber regions on this con- 
tinent has been destroyed, and of that destruction more than half has 
been caused by fire. Nearly two years' supply of lumber for the 
United States has been thus destroyed. Assuming that the timber 
thus destroyed would, if standing now, have a value of 75 cents per 
thousand feet, it appears that not less than $30,000,000 worth has thus 
gone up in smoke — a dead loss to the people of the State. 

In eastern Washington, out of an entire area of 41,928 square miles, 
14,126 square miles only are now covered with merchantable timber, 
or only one-third of the area. Of the area at one time timbered, 
1,385 square miles have been cut over and 244 square miles have been 
burnt. These figures present a strong contrast with similar figures 
20 GEOL, PT 5 2 



18 FOREST RESERVES. 

for western Washington, both in r(\spect to cut and burnt areas. The 
reason for it lies in the fact that in this part of the State the cutting 
is done only for local consumption and never for export, and in these 
open sparse forests of yellow pine fires do not run fi-eely or cause 
much damage. 

The distribution of the diti'erent species recognized as lumber in 
Washington is represented on Pis. Ill to VII and is seen to follow a few 
definite and simple laws. The tints represent the proportion which each 
species bears to the entire forest. The map showing the distribution 
of red fir shows that upon the west shores of Puget Sound the forest 
is practically pure fir, and that southward as far as Columl)ia River, 
throughout the valley of the eastern slope of the Cascade Range, more 
than three-fourths of the forest is composed of this species. The 
proportion diminishes as the Pacific coast is approached, and upon the 
coast and in an area or belt extending from 10 to 25 miles inland, there 
is practically no red fir to be found. On the east coast of Puget Sound 
and southward, between one-half and three-fourths of the forest is 
composed of fir. The proportion increases somewhat as we recede from 
the sound, but at an altitude of about 3.000 feet in the Cascade Range 
the fir disappears. 

The distribution of spruce is expressed on the map in a similar man- 
ner and is equally characteristic. There is practically no spruce on 
the C'ascade Range or on the eastern slopes of the Coast Ranges. It is 
most abundant immediately upon the Pacific coast and diminishes thence 
inland. 

Of cedar there is scarcely any to be found upon the islands and upon 
the west coast of Puget Sound, and but very little in the valley to the 
southward. It increases westward toward the coast and reaches a 
maximum immediately on the coast. The east coast of Puget Sound 
contains a large proportion of cedar, ranging from one-fourth to one- 
half of the forests, and that proportion diminishes as we ascend the 
Cascade Range. 

Hemlock is almost entirely wanting upon both shores of Puget 
Sound and in the valley to the south. It increases westward and forms 
a quite noticeable projjortion of the forests in the Coast Ranges and in 
the northwestern part of the Olympic Peninsula. It increases also 
as we ascend the Cascade Range, its habitat extending nearly to tim- 
ber line. 

ADAMS COUNTY. 

This county lies in the southeastern part of the State. Its surface 
consists of a broadly undulating plateau of basalt, containing few 
stream courses but many coulees. 

The county contains no timber whatever, excepting strips of willows, 
alders, and aspen along the few streams. 



S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 




MAP OB^ WASHINGTON SHO> 

EXPRESSED IN PERCEN' 
Bv Geo. H. Plumme] 



30 10 30 I'p 



1 



Under L^o 



1 to 10 "'o 



10 to 25 



TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT PART V PL. Vt 




ULIUS BIEIN 6 CO LITH N 1 



iE DISTRIBUTION OF CEDAR 

HE TOTAL FOREST AREA 
ner cu\d J. H. Rankine 



o lo 50*^0 



50 to 75% 



Ovel- 7o"o 



GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 19 

ASOTIN COUNTY. 

This is the southeasterumost county of the State. It consists mainly 
of the undulating, timberless, basalt plain of Snake River, but into its 
western edge extends the end of a spur from the Blue Mountains which 
bears some timber. 

Area of limber and other lands in Asotin County, 

Sq. miles. 

Total area - ti-iO 

Area timbered - 105 

Area logged 6 

Estimate of timber in Asotin County. 

M feet B. il. 

Pine - 47,640 

Red fir - - - - 15, 880 

Larch - 7, 940 

White fir - - 7, 940 



Total 79, 400 

Average stand per acre in feet B. M 1, 200 

Besides the above there is upon the cut area a small amount, esti- 
mated at 2 million feet, still standing, which, added to the above 
estimate, gives a total of 81,400,000 feet for the county. 

CHEHALIS COUNTY. 

This county borders upon the Pacific Ocean, and on the north extends 
far up into the Oljnupic Mountains. The northern portion of the 
county is high and rugged and contains little or no merchantable tim- 
ber, and in other portions there are numerous small prairie tracts. 
Aside from these areas the county was originally heavily forested, 
mainl}' with tir in the interior and with spruce and cedar upon the 
coast. There have been few fires in this county, and the ])urned area 
is trifling. Lumbering has, however, been carried on extensively upon 
the streams flowing into Grays Harbor, and especially upon Chehalis 
River, nearly one-tenth of the timbered area of the county having been 
denuded of its forests. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Chehalis County, Washington. 

Pq. miles. 

Total area 2, 104 

Merchantable-timber area 1, 360 

Logged area 130 

Naturally baVe area 47 

Burned area - . . 36 

Estimate of timber in Chehalis County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 9, 799, 418 

Spruce 3,068,307 

Cedar 3,474,350 

Hemlock 2,2.36,983 



Total 18, ,579, 058 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 21, 300 



20 rOBEST RESERVES. 

CLALLAM COUNTT. 

This county occupies the northern part of the Olympic Peninsula. 
The southern portion of the country comprises a part of the Olympic 
Mountains, and is not regarded as containing any timber of present 
merchantable value. The remainder of the county was heavilj^ forested, 
but the ax has made inroads in these forests along the shores of Puget 
Sound as far west as Crescent Bay, and fires have extended inland 
from these cuttings to the mountains, destroying considerable areas of 
timber. The western part of the county is still an unbroken forest. 

The forests of this county are remarkable in the fact that thej' con- 
tain a large proportion of hemlock, the amount of this tree being 
greater than that of the red fir. 

Area of timbered and oilier lands in Clallam County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 1 , 824 

Merchantable-timber area 900 

Logged area 117 

Burned area 151 

Estimate of timber in Clallam County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 3, 045, 297 

Spruce - 1, 758, 845 

Cedar .547, 617 

Hemlock 3, 719, 840 

Total 9, 071, 599 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 15, 700 

CLARKE COUTSITT. 

This county lies in the southwestern part of the State, bordering on 
the south and west upon Columbia River. Originally it was entirely 
covered with heavy forests with the exception of a few small prairie 
tracts. 

But little timber has been cut in the county, lumbering being prin- 
cipally confined to the line of the Portland, Vancouver and Yakima 
Railroad, and, on the other hand, the timber upon two-thirds of the 
county has been destroyed bj' fire, the burned areas lying principally 
in the southern and western parts of the county, leaving large bodies 
of forest in the eastern part. 

The forest consists almost exclusively of fir, there being verj- little 
cedar and hemlock, and no spruce whatever. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Clarke Count;/, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 648 

iMerchantable-timber area 192 

Logged area 25 

Naturally bare area 10 

Burned area 421 



S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 




MAP OK ^\^\SH1NGT0N SHOW 

EXPRESSED IN PERCENTAGI 
Bv GecKPliimmer. F * 



30 ao io 



Ciider I "o 



^777777777/.// 

m 

25 to aO-Jo 



/ 



TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT PART V PL. VII 




JULIUS 81EN 8 CO LITH I 



THE DISTRIBUTION OF PINE 

THK TOTAI. FOREST AREA 
mer ai\d J. H. Rankine 



•^^ 



oU lo 75° 



Over 75% 



GANNETT.r FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 21 

Estimate of timber in Clarke Cuunly, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 2, 124, 126 

Cedar 132, 700 

Hemlock 84, 860 

Total • 2, 341, 686 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 19, 000 

COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

This county lies in the southeastern portion of the State. Its 
southern part is occupied by the Blue Mountains, the crest of which 
runs across the county. Southward they descend rapidlj^ to the 
canyon of Grande Ronde River and northward to the Columbia 
Plains. The greater part of the county consists of these plains, which 
are timberless, with a broadly undulating- surface traversed by few 
streams. The northwest slope of the Blue Mountains was formerly 
well timbered with pine and fir, but this has mainly been logged ofl'. 
The summits of these mountains are sparsely timbered, while the 
southern slopes are timbered quite heavily for this region. There 
have been no burns in the county. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Columbia. County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 864 

Timbered area 162 

Logged area 180 

Untimbered area 522 

Estimate of timber in Columbia County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Pine 109, 500 

Red fir 36, 500 

Larch 18, 250 

White fir 9, 125 

Spruce 9, 125 

Total 182, 500 

Average stand per acre, in feet B. M 1, 700 

Scattered over the cut area is standing timber to the amount of 
about (50 million feet, which, added to the above estimate, gives a 
grand total of 242,500,000 for the county. 

COWUITZ COUNTV. 

This count}' lies in the southern part of the State, being limited on 
the south by Lewis and Columbia rivers. The eastern portion of the 
county comprises the western slopes of Mount St. Helens, and includes 
a considerable area on which the timber is not merchantable. Aside 
from this and a few areas of prairie, the county was originally covered 



22 FOREST RESERVES. 

with fine merchantable forests. Fires have, however, been extremely 
disastrous in this county, destroying the timber on large areas, 
particularly in the eastern and southern parts of the countj\ Lum- 
bermg has been carried on along Columbia and Cowlitz rivers, and 
considerable areas have thus been denuded; but this be|irs little com- 
parison to the areas denuded bj' fire, which comprise fully one-half 
of the portion originally covered by merchantable forests. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Cowlitz County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 1, 124 

Merchantable-timber area 400 

Logged area 80 

Naturally bare area 68 

Burned area 500 

Estimate of timber in Coiditz Courdy, Washington. 

SI tL'ft B. M. 

Fir 3, 932, 591 

Spruce 1, 089 

Cedar 627, 571 

Hemlock 655, 184 

Total 5,216,435 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 20, 400 

DOUGLAS COUNTY. 

This county lies a little east of the center of the state, its area being 
comprised entirely within the Great Plains of the Columbia. It is 
bordered upon the north and west by Columbia River, flowing in a 
deep and narrow valley. The surface of the county is broadly undu- 
lating, consisting of a basalt plateau, intersected by coulees and stream 
canyons. It is almost entirely treeless, only about 1 per cent of its 
area being timbered, the timbered areas lying in nari"ow strips on the 
edge of the plateau near Columbia River. Along Columbia River, 
between Wenache and Virginia, are a few scattered pines and fir. 

Area of timber and other lands in Douglas County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 4, 552 

Timbered area 49 

Logged area 6 

Nontimbered area 4, 497 

Estimate of timber in Douglas County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Yellow pine 23, 250 

Red fir 7, 750 

Total 31,000 

Average stand per acre, in feet B. M 1, 000 



GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 23 

FERRY COUNTY. 

This is a new county, formed in 1899 from the western part of 
Stevens County, in the northeastern part of the State. Its surface is 
almost entirely mountainous and broken, and is throughout covered 
with timber, although the timber is nowhere dense. But one burn of 
any magnitude has occurred in the county in recent times, and no 
appreciable amount of timber has been cut. 

Area of timber and other lands in Ferry County, Washin^on. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 2,260 

Timbered area 2, 217 

Burned area 5 

Nontimbered area 38 

Estimate of timber in Ferry County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Pine - 999, 900 

Red fir 333, 300 

Larch '. 333, 300 

Total •. 1, 666, 500 

Average stand per acre, in feet B. M 1,200 

FRANKLIN COUNTY. 

This county, which lies in the southeastern part of the State, in the 
angle between Snake River and the Columbia, is entirely timberless. 

GARFIELD COUNTY. 

This county lies in the southeastern part of the State, extending from 
Snake River southward to the Oregon line. The southern part includes 
a narrow section of the Blue Mountains. These are forested except 
on the northern slope, which has been largely cut over. The northern 
portion of the county is comprised in the undulating plain of Snake 
River and is timberless. 

Area of timber and other lands in Garfield County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 672 

Timbered area 115 

Cut area i 70 

Nontimbered area 487 

Estimate of timber in Garfield County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Pine 89,820 

Red fir 29,940 

Larch 14, 970 

White fir 7, 485 

Spruce 7, 485 

Total 149, 700 

Average stand per acre in feet, B. M 2, 000 



24 FOBEST RESERVES. 

Scattered over the cut area is standing timber to the amount of 
about 20 million feet, which, added to the above figures, gives a total 
for the county of 169,700,000. 

ISLAND COUNTY. 

This comprises a group of islands in the northern part of Puget 
Sound, including Whidbey and Camano islands. These islands origi- 
nally were entirely covered with fir forests, but have been almost com- 
pletely denuded by the ax. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Island County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 
Total area, all logged 220 

Estimate of timber in Island County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 250, 000 

Cedar .* 180, 000 

Total 430,000 

The above timber is reported as still standing upon culled land. 

JEFFERSON COUNTY. 

This county lies upon the Olympic Peninsula, stretching from Hood 
Canal, upon the east to the Pacific Ocean. The central portion of the 
county, comprising three-fourths of it, lies within the Olympic Moun- 
tains, and contains no timber of present value for milling purposes. 
Elsewhere the county was formerly heavil^v forested, on the east with 
fir, on the west mainly with cedar and spruce. The timber of the 
eastern portion has been largely destroyed either by the ax or by fire, 
mainly by the latter. The timber in the western portion of the county 
has as yet sufiered little from either cause. 

The forests of this countv are remarkalile because of the large 
proportion of cedar, more than half the forest being of this spe- 
cies, while of fir, elsewhere the most abundant species, there is 
comparatively little. 

Ai-ea of timbered and other lands in Jefferson County, Washington. 

Sq miles. 

Total area 1, 688 

Merchantable-timber area 430 

Logged area 96 

Naturally bare area 100 

Burned area 11.5 

Estimate of timber in Jefferson County, Wa,sliington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 794,232 

Spruce 267, 427 

Cedar 2, 124, 72.5 

Hemlock 1, 043, 776 

Total 4, 230, 160 

Average per acre of timbered land in feet B. M 15. 300 



GANNETT.] FOKESTS OF WASHINGTON. 25 

KING COUNTY. 

This county is in the middle of the State north and south, and 
extends from the crest of the Cascade Range westward to the shores 
of Puget Sound. Much of the eastern part of the county lies high up 
in the Cascade Range, and contains little timber of present merchant- 
able value. Aside from this and a few trifling areas of prairie, the 
county was originally heavily forested, but the forests have been largely 
removed by fire or the ax. The latter has taken the timber from Vashon 
and Maury islands, from the shores of Puget Sound, and of Lakes 
Washington and Sammamish, and from a broad belt along the line of 
the Northern Pacific Railway, together with other smaller areas in the 
interior of the county. Fires have done a vast amount of damage in 
various parts of the county, mainly in its central portion, although the 
mountainous regions have not escaped injury. Indeed, fully one-half 
of the area formerly covered with merchantable timber has been 
devastated by fire. 

Area of timbered and other lands in King County, WaMngton. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area '. - 1, 944 

Merchantable-timber area 580 

Logged area 350 

Naturally bare area — 10 

Burned area 520 

Estimate of timber in Kinq County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 5, 251, 784 

Spruce 49, 248 

Cedar - 1,252,318 

Hemlock 1,090,496 

Total 7, 643, 846 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 20, 500 

KITSAP COUNTY. 

This occupies the northern part of the peninsula separating Hood 
Canal from Puget Sound. It was originally entirely covered with heav^- 
fir forests. These have been removed almost entirely bj^ the ax from 
the shores and the islands bordering them. Only a trifling area in the 
southern portion of the county has been burned, while nearly half the 
area has been logged. The standing timber consists entirely of fir. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Kitsap County, Washington. 

Sq. mile.s. 

Total area 392 

Merchantable-timber area 200 

Logged area 170 

Burned area 22 

Estimate of timber in Kitsap County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 1,140,900 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 9, 000 



26 FOREST KESEEVES. 

KITTITAS COUNTY. 

This countj' lies in the middle of the State north and south, and 
streches from Columbia River to the crest of the Cascade Range. The 
southeastern portion of the county is within the plains region, while 
the western portion comprises high and rugged mountain spurs. The 
plains portion is without timber excepting in a narrow strip along the 
Yakima River. The mountain portion is timbered, but hj no means 
heavily, with yellow pine, fir, and larch. Some timber has been cut 
from this area, especially west of Ellensburg, and in i^atches in the 
mountains in the neighborhood of the Northern Pacific Railway. 
The burnt areas are trifling in extent. 

Area of timber and other lands in Kittitas County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 3, 344 

Merchantable-timber area 2, 000 

Logged area 67 

Burnt area _ 10 

Untimbered area 1, 267 

Estimate of timber in Kittitas County, Washingtcm. 

M feet B. M. 

Yellow pine. - 504, 000 

Fir ,504, 000 

Larch 252, 000 

Total 1, 260, 000 

Average stand per acre in feet B. M. .: 1, 000 

KLICKITAT COUNTY. 

This county occupies a long, narrow strip bordering upon Columbia 
River. Its western end is in the foothills of the Cascade Range, 
whence it stretches far eastward into the plains. The western portion 
of the county is timbered, and in certain small areas quite heavilj^ tim- 
bered. The eastern portion, comprising by far the largest part of the 
county, is without forests. A few small areas have been cut, and at the 
western end of the county the great burns of the adjoining county, 
Skamania, have extended into it. These burns have occurred in recent 
years, and restocking is only just commencing upon them. 

.•lr«a of timber and other lands in Klickitat County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 2, 176 

Timbered area : 840 

Logged area 23 

Burnt area 33 

Untimbered area 1 280 



GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 27 

Estimate of timber in Klickitat County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Red fir 336, 300 

Pine 321,100 

Hemlock 71 , 400 

Larch 10,500 

Oak 3,700 

Total -- 743,000 

Average stand per acre in feet B. M 1, 400 

LEWIS COUNTY. 

This is situated in the southwestern part of the State, and extends 
from the crest of the Cascade Range on the east to the Coast Ranges on 
the west, inchiding the valley of Cowlitz River. A considerable por- 
tion of its area, therefore, is included within the Cascade Range, where 
the timber is not regarded as of present merchantable value. There 
are many prairies scattered over its surface, which further reduce the 
original area of merchantable timber. 

The timber upon more than one-third of the area of this county has 
been burned, the burned areas lying mainly in the eastern half of the 
county, though they are not by any means confined to this part. The 
cutting of timber has been carried on mainly in the neighborhood of 
the Northern Pacific Railway, which traverses the county from north 
to south. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Lewis County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 2, 308 

Merchantable-timber area 815 

Logged area 71 

Naturally bare area 60 

Burned area _ 820 

Estimate of timber in Lewis County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 7,236,170 

Spruce 1,311 

Cedar 883,627 

Hemlock 465,154 

Total 8,586,262 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 16, 500 

LINCOLN COUNTT. 

This county lies in the eastern portion of the State, upon the Great 
Plain of the Columbia, and is bordered on the north by Columbia and 
Spokane rivers. Its surface is a broad, undulating, basalt plain, 
traversed by a few stream courses and numerous coulees. The 
timber consists mainly of yellow pine, and is found in the northern 



28 FOREST RESERVES. 

part of the county, near Columbia and Spokane rivers. Formerly it 
extended in a eontinuous belt aeross the county in the neighborhood 
of these streams, but most of it has been cut away for cord wood and 
saw logs. The stand is very light. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Lincoln County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area '. 2, 296 

Timbered area 63 

Logged area 200 

Nontimbered area 2, 033 

Estimate of timber in Lincoln County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Pine 10, 200 

Fir ... ; 1, 800 

Total - 12, 000 

Average stand per acre, in feet B. M 300 

Scattered over the cut area is a little standing timber, amounting to 
about a million feet, which, added to the above estimate, gives a total 
of l-t million feet for the county. 

MASON COUNTT. 

This county includes the .southeastern part of the Olympic Mountains 
and much of the country bordering Hood Canal. The portion within 
the Olympic Mountains is not regarded as containing timber of mer- 
chantable value. Eisewhei'e, however, with the exception of a few 
small prairie tracts, it was originally heavily timbered. Fires have 
done little damage, but timber cutting has been extensive. The forests 
have been removed from the shores of Hood Canal and other inlets 
from Puget Sound, as well as from much of the interior of the county; 
indeed, it appears that nearly two-fifths of the area has been logged. 

The forest consists almost entirely of fir, the amounts of other soecies 
being trifling. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Mason County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 996 

Merchantable-timber area 575 

Logged area 220 

Natnrally bare area 6 

Burned area 12 

Estimate of timber in Mason County, Washirigton. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 2, 055, 648 

Spruce 492 

Cedar 25, 970 

Hemlock 8, 955 

Total 2, 091, 065 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 5, 600 



FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 29 



OKANOGAN COUNTY. 

This large county lies in the northern part of the State, against the 
Canadian boundary, and about midway between the east and west 
boundaries. A large part of this county is comprised within the limits 
of the Washington Forest Reserve, and is not considered as contain- 
ing anj- merchantable timber under present standards. Most of the 
remaining part of the county is timbered but little. It is, in the 
main, a mountainous region, containing, however, the broad valley of 
Okanogan River, which traverses it from north to south, while along 
the southern edge flows Columbia River in a narrow valley. No lum- 
bering has been carried on in the county, and the forests have not 
suffered in recent times by fire. 

Area of limber and other lands in Okanogan County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 7, 258 

Area outside of Washington Forest Eeserve 4, 500 

Merchantable-timber area 3,650 

Nontimbered area 850 

Estimate of timber in Okanogan County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Yellow pine - 1, 599, 300 

Fir 533,100 

Larch 533, 100 

Total 2,665,500 

Average stand per acre in feet, B. M 1, 100 

PACIFIC COUNTY. 

This is the southwesternmost county of the State, bordering upon 
the Pacific Ocean and Columbia River. In the interior its surface is 
somewhat broken by the Coast Ranges, although the relief is nowhere 
great. It is drained by Willapa and Nasel rivers. 

Originally the entire surface, with the exception of a few sandy tracts 
near the coast, was covered with fine forests, composed almost entirely 
of fir in the interior, and of cedar and spruce near the coast. 

Logging has been carried on along the two rivers above mentioned, 
and to some extent immediately on the coast. Altogether only an area 
of 42 square miles has been logged. 

Fires have not been especially prevalent or destructive in this county, 
having destroyed the timber upon an area of only 59 square miles. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Pacific County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 896 

Merchantable-timber area 747 

Logged area 42 

Naturally bare area 12 

Burned area 59 



30 FOREST RESERVES. 

Estimate of timber in Pacific County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 5,498,224 

Spruce 814, 953 

Cedar 713,238 

Hemlock 786,652 

Total 7,813,067 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 16, 300 

PIERCE COUNTY. 

This, one of the western counties of the State, extends from the crest 
of the Cascade Range westward to Puget Sound, and includes several 
islands in the Sound. In the east it includes Mount Rainier, with an 
altitude exceeding l-i,500 feet, from whose summit radiate great areas 
of snow and ice. A large area in the eastern part of this county con- 
tains no timber of merchantable value at present. A considerable area 
has been logged, including nearly all of the islands, large tracts around 
the city of Tacoma, and others along White and Puyallup rivers. 

This county has been singularly free from fires, only a trifling area 
having as yet been burned. There are, however, large tracts, covering 
many scores of square miles south of the city of Tacoma, which are 
naturally timberless. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Pierce County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 1, 376 

Merchantable timber area 563 

Logged area 200 

Naturally bare area , 148 

Burned area 62 

Estimaie of timber in Pierce Counly, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 4,778,091 

Spruce 56, 075 

Cedar 618, 012 

Hemlock 1, 067, 953 

Total 6, 520, 131 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 18, 000 

SAN .rUAN COUNTY. 

This, one of the northwestern counties of the. State, is composed 
entirely of islands in Puget Sound, the principal of which are San 
Juan, Orcas, Lopez, Blakely, Shaw, and Waldron. 

All these islands were oiiginally covered with a heavy forest, com- 
posed of red fir almost exclusively, but, being easily accessible, the 
entire area has been logged. 



GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 31 



, SKAGIT COUNTY. 

This is in the northwestern portion of the State, and extends from 
the crest of the Cascade Range to Puget Sound, including a number 
of islands in the sound. The eastern portion, including much more 
than half the county, being mountainous, is not regarded as contain- 
ing merchantable timber. The western portion, comprising pei-haps 
one-third of the county, was formerly entirely forested, with the 
exception of a considerable tract of prairie about the mouth of Skagit 
River. 

There have been no fires of magnitude within the county, but log- 
ging has been extensively carried on. The islands have been cleared 
entirely, and the lands in the neighborhood of the coast and the imme- 
diate valley of Skagit River have been cleared as far up as the mouth 
of the Sauk. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Skagit County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 1, 960 

Merchantable-timber area 575 

Logged area 196 

Naturally bare area 90 

Burned area 12 

Estimate of timber in Skagit County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir J 5, 841, 229 

Spruce 184, 096 

Cedar 2, 517, 693 

Hemlock 1, 819, 404 

Total 10, 362, 422 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 28, 000 

SKAMANIA COUNTY. 

This county is in the southern portion of the State, bordering on 
Columbia River, and extending thence northward well into the Cascade 
Range. In the northwestern portion of the county is the extinct vol- 
cano of St. Helens, while well into the northeast extend the western 
spurs of Mount Adams. The northern portion of the county is there- 
fore extremely rugged, mountainous, and elevated, and the spurs from 
these mountains extend southward nearly to Columbia River. 

The northern half of the county is not regarded by lumbermen as con- 
taining any acce.ssible merchantable timber, although with the exception 
of the summits of the highest mountains, which are above timber line, 
it was formerly wooded. The southern half was at one time timbered 
quite heavily, especially toward the west. In recent years, however, 
tires have destroyed the timlier in more than half the area of the county. 
These fires have invaded the eastern and western portions, leaving 



32 FOREST RESERVES. 

between them a narrow belt of forests, together with a broad strip along 
Columbia River; indeed, the timber upon more than half the area of 
the county has been thus destroyed. 

But little of the timber of this county has been cut. Logging oper- 
ations extend along Columbia River across the county, reaching per- 
haps a mile back from the river and up a few of the streams flowing 
into it. 

The forests of this county consist almost entirely of fir and hem- 
lock. The amount of cedar is trifling and there is no spruce in the 
county. 

Area of timbered and other landsin Skamania County, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 1, 636 

Merchantable-timber area 430 

Logged area 57 

Timberless area 58 

Burned area 926 

Estimate of timber in Skamania County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 3, 675, 960 

Cedar 21,411 

Hemlock 963, 759 

Total '. 4, 661, 130 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 17, 000 

SNOHOMISH COUNTY. 

This county extends f I'om the crest of the Cascade Range to Pnget 
Sound. The eastern part is composed of high and rugged mountains, 
and contains little, if any, merchantable timber. The western half 
was originally forested, with the exception of a few tracts of prairie. 
Logging has, however, been carried on extensively in this county, two- 
fifths of the area formerh' timbered having been stripped by the ax. 
Burns have not been extensive or destructive. 

The forest consists of fir and cedar, the amount of hemlock being 
trifling, with no spruce whatever. 

Area of timbered and other lands in Snohomish County, Washington. 

Sq. mile.s. 

Total area 1, 720 

Merchantable-timber area 634 

Logged area 280 

Xatiirally bare area 24 

Burned area 40 

Estimate of timber in Snohomish County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 5, 244, 741 

Cedar 2, 379, 888 

Hemlock 84, 141 

Total 7, 708, 770 

Average per acre, in feet B. IM 19, 000 



GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 33 



SPOKANE COUNTY. 

This count}^ borders upon the Idaho boundary and lies about mid- 
way between the north and south boundaries of the State. The eastern 
part is somewhat hilly and broken, while the western part consists of 
a portion of the great basaltic plain of the Columbia, intersected by 
numerous coulees, but traversed by few flowing streams. 

Much of the area of this county was formerly tioibered, but the 
timber has been, in great part, cut away to supply the needs of the city 
of Spokane and other towns. Very little of the timber has suffered 
from lire. 

Area of timber and other lands in Spokane Count;/, Washington. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 1_ 680 

Timbered area 49.^ 

Cut area g05 

Burnt area 4 

Estimate of timber in Spokane Courtly, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Pine 532, 400 

Larch 121, 360 

Rt;J fi'' .32, 680 

C«dar 29, 560 

Total 716^ 000 

Average stand per acre, in feet B. M 2 300 

Scattered over the cut area there is still standing scattered timber 
estimated altogether at 50 million feet, which, added to the above, 
gives a total of T6t3 million feet for the county. 

STEVENS COUNTY. 

This is the northeastern county of the State. It is bordered on the 
west by Columbia River, while much of its .southern boundary is 
formed by Spokane Kiver. It is, in the main, a mountainous region, 
but is intersected by the broad valleys of Clark Fork and other 
streams. Nearly all of its area is timbered, but nowhere densely. 
Burned areas are more extensive here than in any other of the eastern 
counties, and there has been considerable cutting in scattered localities. 

The species of timber found in the county consist of pine, in which 
is included both yellow and western white pine, which are not dis- 
tinguished, red fir. larch, and cedar. In the western portion of the 
county, along Columbia River, the timber consists almost entirely of 
pine, only 4 per cent being fir and 1 per cent larch. In the neighbor- 
hood of Colville River the proportion of pine diminishes to 7.5 per 
cent, and that of fir and larch increases to 10 per cent each, while the 
proportion of cedar reaches 5 per cent. In the southeastern part of 
the county the proportion of pine is still further reduced to 00 per 
20 GEOL, PT 5 3 



34 FOREST RESERVES. 

coiit. whilo larch increases to 30 per cent, the remainder being made up 
ol" e(iual proportions of fir and cedar. Along- the line of the Great 
Northern Kaihvay, in the southern corner of the county, the proportion 
of larch is still gi-eater, reaching 50 per cent in certain small areas. 

Arni of liiiilii/r and ollwr Idiidx in SleniiK Counti/, )y(tshm(/lijn. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 4, 000 

Timbered area 3, 713 

Cut area 23 

Burned area l.W 

Nontimbered area 105 

Esllmate of limber in SU'irns County, ]\'asliiiiijlon. 

M feet B. M. 

Pine - 2, 026, 260 

Larch 351 , 218 

Ked lir 297, 185 

Cedar 27, 017 

Total 2,701, 680 

Average t:tan<l ])er acre, in feet B. M 1,100 

THURSTON COUNTY. 

This county lies in the western part of the State, bordering on the 
north upon Puget Sound. Its area was, with the exception of numer- 
ous ])rairie tracts, originally covered entirely with tine forests, manily 
of tir. At present all the forests in the neighborhood of Puget Sound 
ha\(? l)een cut away. Fires have not been prevalent and but little 
timlu'i- has l)c(Mi destroyed by this lueans. 

Ari'ii of liiiilii'nil mill olhir liiiiih in Thuriflim Counlii, ]V(inJiinf/lon. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 768 

Merchantable-tiinber area 380 

Logged area 147 

Naturally bare area 100 

Burned area 56 

Esliiiiiilf of liinlii-rin Tlinrnton County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 2, 608, 125 

Sprme 462 

Cedar 108, 949 

Hemlock 69, 807 

Total 2, 787, 343 

Average per acre I if timbered land, in feet B. M 11,050 

WAHKIAKUM COUNTY. 

This county lies in the southwestern part of the State, bordering on 
Columl)ia River. With the exception of certain islands in the Colum- 
bia and small tracts about the mouths of certain tributarv streams. 



GANNETT] FOKESTS OF WASHINGTON. 35 

the entire area was heavily forested. Lumbering has been carried on 
along the shores of the Columbia and on Gray and Deep rivers. Fires 
also ha\c lieen somewhat prevalent in the count}', l)ut more than two- 
thirds of the area of the county is still covered by tine forests. 

Area offimheri'd ami other lauds in Wahkiakum Coiin/y, Washingtem. 

Sq. miles. 

Total area 244 

Merchantable-timber area 172 

Logged area 40 

Burned area 32 

Estimate of timlier in Walikiahnn C'ovnti/, Washinrjtint. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 1, 947, 150 

Spruce 182, 520 

Cedar 301, 757 

Hemlock 542, 680 

Total 2, 974, 107 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 27,000 

WALLA WALLA COUNTY. 

This count}' lies in the southern part of the State, being bordered 
on the north bv Snake River and on the west by Columbia Rivei'. Its 
surface is an undulating plain, sloping northward and westward from 
the Blue Mountains. 

The amount of timber in this county was originallj' small, and this 
has been entirely logged off, with the exception of about 4,500,000 feet 
left standing after logging operations. Of this about half is pine, one- 
fourth tir, and one-fourth larch. 

WHATCOM COUNTY. 

This is the most northern county of the State west of the Cascade 
Range. It extends west from the summit of the range to the shores of 
Puget Sound. In the eastern half of the county are found ^Mounts 
Baker and Shuk.san, two great extinct volcanoes, rising high above 
timber line. This eastern mountainous half of the county is not regarded 
as containing any timlier of present merchantable value. The western 
half was originally ver}- hea\'ily timl)ered. Its forests were proljably 
as dense as in any other county in the State, but they have been almost 
entirely destro}-ed by tire. Certain areas along the coast, on Nooksak 
River and on the Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Railroad, ha^'e 
been logged, but the amount of timlier thus utilized is small as com- 
pared with that desti'oyed by tire. To illustrate the extent of this 
devastation it may be stated that out of a timbered area of 780 square 
miles not less than 630 square miles have been liurned; KM square 
miles have been logged, and only S»l square miles of timber of present 
merchantable value are to be found in the county. 



36 FOREST BESERVES. 

The forest consists almost entirely of tir and cedar, the amounts of 
hemlock and spruce being trifling. 

Area of t'nnlicri'd and other lands in Whatcom County, Wasldnqton. 

Sq. miles. 

Total are.a 2, 468 

Merchantable-timber area 86 

Loggeil area 164 

Naturally bare area 100 

Burned area ,530 

Jiatimate of timber in }Mmtcom County, Washington. 

M feet B. M. 

Fir 985, 175 

Spruce 18, 580 

Cedar _ 282, 450 

Hemlock 60, 190 

Total 1,346, ,395 

Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 24, 000 

WHITMAN COUNTY. 

This i-ount\' is in the eastern part of the State, bordering upon 
Idaho. Its surface is a broadly undulating plain, with a surface of 
basalt sloping to the eastward. 

It formerly contained a few small areas of timber land in the east- 
ern and noi-thern parts, but these have ])cen logged over, leaving, 
however, a small amount of timber still standing. 

.-Ir«( of timber and other lands in Whitman County, Washington. 

Si I. miles. 

Total area 2, 124 

I^ogged area 110 

Nontimbered area 2,014 

In the cut areas there is still standing a little timber, estimated at 
35 million feet, consisting mainly of yellow pine. 

YAKIM.\ COUNTY. 

This county lies in the middle southern portion of the State, being 
bordered upon the east by Colimibia River, and extending on the west 
to the crest of the Cascade Range. The western portion of the county is 
included within the Mount Rainier Forest Reserve. The estimates of 
area and of stand of timber do not include the reserve portion. 

The eastern portion of the county consists of a broadly undulating 
plain, and is without forests. The western portion lies in the Cascade 
Range, is mountainous and broken, and is timbered throughout, but 
for the most part not heavily. There has been considerable cutting in 
the lower edges of the mountain forests, particularly upon the Naches 
River, where a large area has been logged. There are no l)urns except 
in the southwest corner of the county. 



«'*'>''"'•"•] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 37 

Area of timber and oilier land<< in Yakima Coiiiil!/, Washington. 

8q. miles. 
Total area 5 -qO 

Area outside of Mount Rainier Forest Reserve 4 587 

Timljered area ' -90 

Logged area g5 

Burnt area 00 

Nontimbered area g -gg 

Eslimute of timber in Yakima County, Washington. 

M feet B. M 
^'J - 434, 838 

^™^ 320, 900 

Hemlock 77_ ;^00 

Cedar ,30 gQO 

'r°t'^' 893,438 

Average stand per acre in feet B. M ^ 9qq 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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